tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post1547949914672916774..comments2024-03-28T18:01:17.304-07:00Comments on Daytonian in Manhattan: The Samuel J. Tilden House -- No. 15 Gramercy ParkTom Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-64407670956092200302020-04-21T16:54:07.574-07:002020-04-21T16:54:07.574-07:00In his autobiography "Retrospections of an Ac...In his autobiography "Retrospections of an Active Life," Tilden's old friend John Bigelow noted that in old age, Tilden had confided to him that he remained a virgin, believing that if he had been involved with a woman, he simply would not have the time he required to do all the good works he wanted to do. It struck me as a strange bit of information to include, but I guess they didn't necessarily look at sex in the same way modern people do. And of course Tilden was dead and gone by that time.Jane Poultneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340379355295096128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-35657182529322072072018-10-04T03:04:50.693-07:002018-10-04T03:04:50.693-07:00No. Tilden did not have a beard. According to th...No. Tilden did not have a beard. According to the National Arts Club that portrait is of Michelangelo.Tom Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-49608994917253677082018-10-03T18:56:46.970-07:002018-10-03T18:56:46.970-07:00I wandered by here today & is that Tildens’ he...I wandered by here today & is that Tildens’ head above the entrance?? I can’t seem to find info on that!!<br />Jeaniehttp://www.tixlady.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-32759912110837132172017-01-26T15:36:16.998-08:002017-01-26T15:36:16.998-08:00Regarding Tilden's wealth, he was a very smart...Regarding Tilden's wealth, he was a very smart lawyer who worked on legal issues for the railways, when the railways were creating great wealth for people like the Vanderbilt family. He also invested that wealth in real estate at a time NYC was expanding and real estate values were greatly increasing. He was certainly not corrupt and in fact was a reformer who helped clean up Tammany Hall and the Tweed Ring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-51117022587733264862013-05-31T13:55:59.301-07:002013-05-31T13:55:59.301-07:00Love seeing this building restored. I did a painti...Love seeing this building restored. I did a painting of it several years ago. http://sjfnewyork.blogspot.com/search?q=NAC+GramercySJFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03937836189978908532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-55358992133640659242013-05-31T09:00:40.667-07:002013-05-31T09:00:40.667-07:00A magnificent survivor especially since the outdat...A magnificent survivor especially since the outdated architectural style had to escape alterations over the decades. What an incredible series of interior spaces. Breathtakingly beautiful. <br /><br />Also speculating and presuming someone's fortune was stolen without any shred of historial evidence is more than unkind and foolish but reckless when it appears on the internet.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-69500642967644122892013-05-31T03:37:48.279-07:002013-05-31T03:37:48.279-07:00Perhaps Tilden stole from his own clients - substi...Perhaps Tilden stole from his own clients - substituting pages after the client had signed the document, making himself their trustee etc.<br /><br />The easy way for a lawyer to get rich - somehow acquire title to their client's property without paying for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-16864146047472568152013-05-31T02:21:27.178-07:002013-05-31T02:21:27.178-07:00Tilden's family was financially comfortable, b...Tilden's family was financially comfortable, but it appears he made his own fortune with his connections as a lawyer for the railroad companies. But even that seems hard to explain the enormous fortune he amassed.Tom Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13542224816886418433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-40358973942731904772013-05-30T20:25:56.624-07:002013-05-30T20:25:56.624-07:00It's funny how tastes change over time. When...It's funny how tastes change over time. When I first became interested in the work of Calvert Vaux, I was in the 7th grade, and at the time I remember thinking this house was just not up to par for Vaux. I actually found it somewhat ugly and decided that it must have actually been designed by Frederick Clarke WIthers or another Englishman who gave Vaux the credit. But now that I'm getting (unsolicited & unwelcome) invitations to join the AARP, I have to say I've done a complete 180. This is one of my favorite Vaux works. There is really nothing like it, and I'm so glad it's being cared for as it should. Also, I've never quite understood how Tilden managed to get so rich, but good for him! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06761289526952916146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-64129128477405791342013-05-30T16:32:01.628-07:002013-05-30T16:32:01.628-07:00And the Aldon story is so much more sorted and int...And the Aldon story is so much more sorted and interesting than what has so far come out. Maybe one day that amazing page in American history will be written. As long as there are people like Mr. Miller who care to look into things I have every reason to think it will.harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18192313520631815899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-91921226011735420132013-05-30T13:36:09.379-07:002013-05-30T13:36:09.379-07:00I remember reading about the internal squabbling a...I remember reading about the internal squabbling at the National Arts Club; as I recall, it was a shockingly undignified affair all the way around. It is good to see that the situation has resolved, and this remarkable building is having some stability. Another great posting!Jeffinprovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268291403063609901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502312000087595701.post-77635227728752187792013-05-30T09:12:21.355-07:002013-05-30T09:12:21.355-07:00Tilden spent half a million dollars on renovations...Tilden spent half a million dollars on renovations in the 1870s? That is quite a testament to the fortunes one could make in the patent medicine business!<br /><br />I attended an event at the National Arts Club about a decade ago--it may have been in need of restoration, but it was still absolutely sumptuous.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.com